The Woodstock Town Board criticized officials in the Town of Ulster at its twice-monthly meeting Tuesday, citing what it described as a lack of communication and potential negligence in the handling of a proposed 30-home development that straddles property in both towns off Eastwoods Drive.
The project, known as Zena Homes, was initially pitched as a 191-home community called Woodstock National that would have included a golf course and a helipad. That proposal was withdrawn and later revised following public opposition. Of the 624-acre property, 106 acres lie in Ulster, with the remaining acreage in Woodstock. Developers have said construction would occur only on the Ulster portion of the site.
In October, the state Department of Environmental Conservation designated the Town of Ulster as lead agency for the project’s environmental review. Since then, critics have accused Ulster officials of poor communication and of failing to address the full impact of the development on neighboring properties in Woodstock.
On Tuesday, the Woodstock Town Board voted unanimously to authorize Supervisor Anula Courtis to send a letter to the Ulster Planning Board urging coordination with Woodstock’s Planning Board to address Woodstock’s concerns. Woodstock officials said emails sent in recent months to Town of Ulster planners have gone unanswered.
“The Woodstock Town Board is deeply concerned about the potential environmental impacts this project poses for the Town of Woodstock,” Courtis wrote in the letter. “As lead agency, [the Town of Ulster Planning Board] must take a hard look at the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project, including those identified by other involved agencies.”
Courtis also raised concerns about emergency services access to the proposed development, as well as an increased burden on Woodstock Fire Company No. 4, which could be tasked with responding to calls at the site.
Courtis did not respond to requests for comment.
Andy Mossey, executive director of the Woodstock Land Conservancy, said he worries that recent political turmoil in Ulster could lead to decisions with long-lasting consequences. The conservancy owns the Israel Wittman Sanctuary, which borders the proposed development.
“Ulster’s political situation has been in such flux,” Mossey said, pointing to Supervisor James Quigley resigning shortly after being reelected in November and then rescinding that resignation in December. Ulster Town Board member Clayton Van Kleeck resigned in January after publicly chastising Quigley.
“Ulster has a history of speeding through the permitting process,” Mossey continued. “A lot of repercussions would land on Woodstock, long term. We need to do a full environmental review.”
Reached by phone, Ulster Supervisor James Quigley said the lack of communication between the towns stemmed from four vacancies on Ulster’s Planning Board.
“When I have a planning board, there will be communications,” Quigley said, adding that the Ulster Town Board planned to appoint new members at its Jan. 22 meeting.
Quigley said he had not received Courtis’ letter and questioned the motives of Woodstock officials.
“I have not received the letter yet and I have no basis to respond to the letter,” Quigley said. “I know the game they are playing. That is their choice. I can’t help it if some people don’t agree with the outcomes when we follow the rules and regulations. Frankly, it’s their problem, not mine.”
He also pushed back on Mossey’s criticism.
“Is the pot calling the kettle black? Did I mention the strife in the Woodstock government over the past few years?” Quigley said, referring to what was often a contentious term under former Woodstock Supervisor Bill McKenna. “Attacks are not going to change how I do things. I have a 16-year record of following the rules and regulations.”
Quigley said Ulster’s newly appointed Planning Board members are expected to meet Feb. 10. The board could issue either a positive or negative declaration on the Zena Homes proposal. A positive declaration would require additional environmental studies and input from other agencies, while a negative declaration would indicate that any potential impacts could be mitigated without further review.
Mossey said the Woodstock Land Conservancy is prepared to file an Article 78 appeal in state Supreme Court if the Town of Ulster approves the project without further study.
“This is not a game at all. This is actually a very serious matter for us,” Mossey said. “We have a lot of supporters who live in that area and will be directly impacted by this.”
Jim Rich is a senior reporter for The Overlook. You can reach him at jim@theoverlooknews.com.
